The Big Bad Wolf

I WASN'T SURE how to react to the Wolf, or his message to Sphinx. Should I speak now? Did he know we were on to him? How could he? Sterling 66: Now what's your problem, Mr. Potter? This was my chance. I wanted to try and draw out Wolf if I could. But could I pull it off? I was aware that everyone was watching me in the operation room. I don't have a problem, I typed. I'm just ready for another boy. U know I'm good for it. Haven't I always been? Sterling 66: UR ready for another boy? U just recently received "Worcester." About a week ago? I typed: Yes, but he's left us. Sphinx 3000: That's very funny. UR so cute, Potter. Such a cute psycho killer. Sphinx didn't like Potter, did he? I had to assume the feeling was mutual. I typed, I love U too. We should get together and bond in person. Sterling 66: When U say "He's left us," I assume U mean that he's dead? Mr. Potter: Yes, the dear boy passed. I'm over my grieving, though. Ready to move on. Sphinx 3000: Hilarious. This bickering was starting to get on my nerves. Who the hell were these sick bastards? Where were they? Besides cyberspace? I have someone in mind. I've been watching him for a while, I typed. Sphinx 3000: I'll bet he's gorgeous. I typed: Oh, he is. One of a kind. The love of my life. Sterling 66: U said that about Worcester. What city? I typed: Boston. Cambridge, actually. He's a student at Harvard. Working for his doctorate. Argentinean, I believe. Rides polo ponies in the summer. Sterling 66: Where did U bump into this one, Potter? The next tidbit I'd gotten from Homer Taylor himself. Actually, I did bump into him. He's so firm. Sphinx 3000: Where did you meet him? Tell, tell. I typed: I was at Harvard for a symposium. Sterling 66: On? I typed: Milton. Of course. Sterling 66: He was attending? I typed: No - I literally bumped into him. In the men's room. I watched him for the rest of the day. Found out where he lived. Been studying him for three months. Sterling 66: So why did U purchase Worcester? I knew the question was coming. Impulse, I typed. Then, But this boy in Cambridge, that's true love. Not a casual thing. Sterling 66: So U have a name? An address? I typed: I do. And I have my checkbook. Sterling 66: Worcester won't be found? UR certain? I could hear Potter's voice in my head as I typed. Good Lord, no. Not unless someone goes swimming in my septic tank. Sphinx 3000: Gross, Potter. I love it. Sterling 66: Well, if U have checkbook in hand. Wolf: No. We'll wait on this. It's too soon, Potter. We'll get back to you. As always, I've enjoyed our talk, but I have other matters to attend to. Wolf signed off. He was gone. Shit. He'd come and gone just like that. The mystery man, as always. Who was this bastard? I stayed on-line, chatting with the others for a few minutes - expressing my disappointment at the decision, my eagerness to make a purchase. Then I left the site too. I looked around the operation room at my colleagues. A few began to clap, partly mocking me, but mostly it was genuinely congratulatory. Cop-to-cop stuff. Almost like old times. I felt marginally accepted by the others in the room. For the first time, actually.